Montville scored all of its runs in the seventh inning to gain a 5-4 victory over second-seeded Morris Knolls in Morris County Tournament quarterfinal action on Saturday, April 27.
Tami Lake singled to get the Mustangs (10-5) started in the seventh. Sammie Booth reached on an error. Rachel Inglesino singled to load the bases. Megan Patierno was hit by a pitch, scoring Lake.
Senior Emily Mulligan then hit a grand slam over the left-field fence to put 10th-seeded Montville in front, 5-2. The home run was Mulligan's ninth of the season.
The Golden Eagles (14-3) put across two runs in the lower half of the seventh on Mia Baldassari's bases-loaded single.
"It was an exciting game," Montville coach John Immediato said. "It took awhile for our bats to get going. I love the way the team is playing right now. We're jelling at the right time. The girls are playing for each other."
Jessica Shalongo was the winning pitcher. The junior right-hander has won all six of her starts and given up only three earned runs since returning from a nagging back injury. Shalongo, now 9-1, has allowed only four runs in three MCT games. The Mustangs shut out Villa Walsh and Hanover Park in previous rounds.
Morris Knolls took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Gina Nappi's RBI single scored Felix and an error.
Jefferson 4, Chatham 0
Top-seeded Jefferson, behind Melissa Jurkiewicz's three-hitter, shut out No. 8 Chatham in an MCT quarterfinal-round game on Saturday, April 27.
Jurkiewicz struck out seven and walked one to send her record to 12-3.
The Falcons, who will meet Whippany Park in the semifinals on Thursday, May 2, backed Jurkiewicz with a seven-hit attack.
Amanda Delfino and Claudia Tietz had two hits apiece for Jefferson (13-3). Tietz drove in a run as did Kayla Weber. Anna Carlson and Weber doubled.
For Chatham, Kendall Davies, McCall Moore and Raleigh Heap had hits. The Cougars are 9-5.
Whippany Park 11, Butler 1
Nicole Romawsky, Ashley LoBell and Rachel Grabowski had two RBIs apiece to spur fourth-seeded Whippany Park to a win over Butler in MCT quarterfinal play on Saturday, April 27.
LoBell had the game's only extra base hit, a triple. Courtney Simon, Ashley Belott and Brittany Funicelli also drove in runs.
Winning pitcher Jenn Sanislo struck out four, walked one and yielded four hits in the five-inning game.
Fifth-seeded Butler scored a run in the third inning to pull within one, 2-1, but the Wildcats erupted for five runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up, 7-1.
Pope John 6, Belvidere 2
Mary Adams gave up only three hits before giving way to Adrianna Barone in action at the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament on Saturday, April 27.
Adams went five innings, striking out one and walking none before being relieved by Barone, who struck out two.
Kaylee Powers and Toni Santonastasso had two hits each for the Lions (12-6). Santonastasso, Kaitlyn Morrison and Mary Ullmann had RBIs for Pope John.
Belvidere led, 2-0, before the Lions scored four runs in the lower half of the fourth inning.
Columbia 9, Parsippany Hills 5
Emily Schnorr hit a solo home run, doubled, walked, scored twice and drove in two runs for Columbia on Saturday, April 27.
Casey Dickson added two hits and drove in two runs for the Cougars (7-9). Sarah Casiano also had an RBI triple and scored.
Mackenzie Brown went 3 for 4 and scored for the Vikings (6-10). Kaitlyn Jansen (2 for 4) and Kristyna Lynch had RBIs for Parsippany Hills.
West Morris 2, Whippany Park 0
West Morris scored twice in the top of the sixth inning, getting runs on RBI base hits by Kat Spilman and Becca Raymond, and blanked Whippany Park on Friday, April 26.
A single by Allie McCourt and a sacrifice bunt set up Spilman's run-producing hit.
Jamie Fesinstine of West Morris gave up three hits, struck out eight and walked one. Jenn Sanislo of Whippany Park scattered four hits, had nine strikeouts and gave up two walks.
Villa Walsh 15, Mountain Lakes 4
Annie McCluskey doubled and drove in three runs and Erin DiGuglielmo had three RBIs to pace the Vikings on Friday, April 26.
Almarie Brennan went 3 for 3 with two RBIs for Villa Walsh (4-8).
Veronica Manley and Jessica Walsh had two hits apiece for the Vikings. Shannon Toth had one of the Lakers' three hits.
Pope John 8, Parsippany Hills 1
Julia Engdahl, Christina Marinaro and Kaylee Powers had two hits apiece for the Lions (11-6) when they defeated Parsippany Hills on Friday, April 26.
Powers hit a solo home run and scored twice. Marinaro scored twice and drove in a run and Engdahl also scored.
Kaitlyn Jansen had two hits and an RBI and Erica Ruja tripled and scored for the Vikings (6-9).
Boonton 3, Butler 1
Boonton avenged a 19-1 loss to Butler, handing the Bulldogs their second loss of the season, 3-1, on Thursday, April 25.
Anna Lee Smith and Kylie Morgan were among the standouts for the Bombers, who moved their record to 9-7.
Morgan, a senior right-hander, gave up six hits and struck out eight. She had a no-hitter on Wednesday vs. Sussex Tech. Morgan is 5-1 over her last six games. During that time frame, she's batting .550 with two home runs and 10 RBIs.
Smith, the leadoff hitter, had four hits, including a double, and knocked in a run. She also stole her 36th, 37th and 38th bases of the season. Meghan Maida doubled and Mackenzie Thompson had two hits for Boonton.
For Butler, which was shut out 7-0 by Pequannock a day earlier, Larissa Spellman singled, tripled and drove in a run. Marlene Arabia contributed a double.
Morristown 4, Chatham 3
Victoria Kapp had two hits, one of them a double, and drove in the game-winning run for Morristown when it edged Chatham on Thursday, April 25.
Alli Klinger also had two hits and knocked in a run for the Colonials, now 6-7. Joanna Lee had two hits and Alex Gleason had a double for Morristown. Winning pitcher Nicole Rhoades struck out four and scattered four hits.
Chatham (9-4) received a double from Candace DeVito.
Mendham 11, Parsippany Hills 1
Tess Madarasz went 2 for 3 with a triple and two RBIs and Courtney Gionco had two RBIs to spark Mendham on Thursday, April 25.
The Minutemen received doubles from Dana Rafferty and Shannon Smith. Nikkey Skuraton tripled.
Sophomore Irene Margiotta yielded three hits and struck out four for Mendham.
Morris Catholic 11, Kinnelon 7
Gina Tonini rapped out four hits and drove in a run to highlight the Crusaders' win over the Colts on Thursday, April 25.
Jeannie Kivlon (3 for 4) and Jessica Torsiello (2 for 4, three RBIs) also had big days at the plate for Morris Catholic (4-7).
Brittany Coppola drove in a run for Kinnelon.
Whippany Park 15, Parsippany 2
Jenn Sanislo, taking a day off from pitching, went 3 for 3, including a home run, and finished with three RBIs for the Wildcats on Thursday, April 25.
Additional offensive standouts were Alexa Cozzarelli (2 for 3, home run, two RBIs), Ashley Belott (double, three RBIs), Rachel Grabowski (2 for 4) and winning pitcher Brittany Funicelli (2 for 4, RBI).
Funicelli pitched a two-hitter and struck out five for Whippany Park (9-4) in the five-inning game.
Jefferson 3, Hopatcong 0
The Falcons, behind Melissa Jurkiewicz's two-hit, 10-strikeout, one-walk performance, blanked the Chiefs on Thursday, April 25.
Pacing the attack for Jefferson (12-3) was Claudia Tietz, who doubled and knocked in a run. Lauren Gutowski added two hits and Anna Carlson had an RBI for the winners.
Hannah Bibeault (double) and Pamela Hon had hits for Hopatcong.
Dover 5, Villa Walsh 4
Villa Walsh outhit Dover 14-6 but fell short on Thursday, April 25.
Leyri Rivera and Jessica Castro had two RBIs apiece for the Tigers, who registered their first win of the season. Rivera stole two bases.
Erin Delaney and Veronica Manley each went 3 for 4 for the Vikings. Delaney and Catria O'Shaughnessy knocked in two runs. Juliana Strelec had three hits, including the 100th of her career for Villa Walsh.
Morris Tech 12, East Brunswick Tech 0
Jillian Marchione, a freshman, fired a four-hitter and registered 11 strikeouts to pace the Devils on Thursday, April 25.
Rebecca Jansen buoyed the attack, getting three hits, including a pair of doubles.
Mandy L'Heritier finished with three RBIs for Morris Tech.
Pequannock 8, Sussex Tech 2
Rachel Pierson doubled and had three RBIs and Bridget Carr had two RBIs for the Golden Panthers (12-3) on Thursday, April 25.
Nicole Hernandez also doubled for Pequannock in support of Christina Brizek and Alyssa Lobosco.
Brizek was the winning pitcher, giving up four hits in four innings of work before being relieved by Lobosco. Brizek aided the offense with two hits.
Boonton 6, Sussex Tech 0
Kylie Morgan pitched a no-hitter and struck out 11 when Boonton defeated Sussex Tech on Wednesday, April 24.
Sussex Tech's only baserunner reached on a throwing error with two outs in the seventh inning. Morgan helped herself, singling in two runs.
Anna Lee Smith went 3 for 4 with three stolen bases, giving her 35 on the season. Freshman Carly McDaniels also added two hits and an RBI for the Bombers, now 8-7. Another freshman, Chelsea Davis, had a hit and RBI. Meaghan Maida (hit, RBI) and Mackenzie Thompson (hit, two stolen bases) contributed to Boonton's offense.
West Morris 3, Jefferson 1
Timely hitting stood out when the Wolfpack posted a victory over the Falcons on Wednesday, April 24.
Kelsey Brown slugged a triple and drove in two runs. Allie McCourt chipped in with two hits, one of them a double.
Jamie Fesinstine pitched a four-hitter, striking out six and walking just one For West Morris (9-3). Amanda Delfino drove in Jefferson's run.
Morris Knolls 18, Montville 8
Center fielder Mia Baldassari belted two homers and had four RBIs for the Golden Eagles (14-2) on Wednesday, April 24.
Ashley Lesch stroked three hits, one of them a triple, and finished with three RBIs.
Megan Patierno homered and had four RBIs for Montville. Rachel Inglesino had two hits.
Hanover Park 3, Pope John 2
Danielle Politi's single drove in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning, snapping a 2-2 deadlock for the Hornets on Wednesday, April 24.
The base hit was the second of the day for Politi. Alex Consenzo, who had a double in the seventh, crossed the plate on Politi's clutch hit.
Sam Snyder gave up two hits and fanned eight to notch the pitching win for Hanover Park (10-3). Julia Depuyt had two hits for Pope John.
Randolph 14, Kinnelon 0
The Rams, who erupted for 10 runs in the third inning, received two hits and four RBIs from senior shortstop Amanda Magadan on Wednesday, April 24.
Cynthia Meringer had three hits, including a triple and homer, and also knocked in four runs.
Kelly O'Neill surrendered one hits over four innings of work. O'Neill struck out seven and walked two. Olivia Kiss pitched an inning and struck out one.
Butler 9, Parsippany Hills 1
Fifth-seeded Butler remained undefeated after 11 games by defeating Parsippany Hills in a Morris County Tournament first-round game on Tuesday, April 23.
Hitting standouts for the Bulldogs included Brianne Lipinski (2 for 3, two RBIs), Aleks Apkarian (2 for 3, two RBIs) and Allison DePuyt (double).
Freshman pitcher Larissa Spellman limited the 12th-seeded Vikings to five hits.
West Morris 10, Roxbury 0
West Morris gained a 2-0 lead in the first inning of this MCT first-round game on Becca Raymond's sacrifice fly and Kelsey Brown's RBI base hit.
Raymond then slugged a three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning. An inning later, the Wolfpack strung together a few more hits, getting an RBI single from Kat Spilman, two RBIs from Brown, an RBI double from Jamie Fesinstine and a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Rebekah Katz.
Jamie Fesinstine pitched all five innings, notching nine strikeouts, walking one and giving up six hits. Amber Campbell had a double and a single for the Gaels.
Whippany Park 10, Parsippany 0
The fourth-seeded Wildcats, buoyed by the one-hit pitching of Jenn Sanislo and an attack that featured multiple extra base hits, blanked the 13th-seeded Red Hawks in MCT first-round action on Tuesday, April 23.
Sanislo, a senior righty, had four strikeouts. Courtney Simon helped back Sanislo with three hits, including two triples, and knocked in five runs. Ashley Lobell also had three hits, one of them a triple, and drove in a run.
Alexa Cozzarelli tripled and scored a run and Jamie Rehus and Rachel Grabowski doubled and scored two runs apiece for Whippany Park (8-4). Parsippany's lone hit, a double, came off the bat of Amanda Angulo.
Jefferson 4, Boonton 1
The top-seeded Falcons received a home run from Anna Carlson and a triple and two RBIs from Claudia Tietz when they registered a MCT first-round win over No. 17 Boonton.
Katie Lisa also doubled for Jefferson. Falcons ace Melissa Jurkiewicz, a junior, gave up three hits, struck out 10 and walked two.
For the Bombers, Kylie Morgan doubled and drove in a run. Morgan also absorbed the pitching loss.
Pequannock 3, Morristown 0
The third-seeded and four-time defending champion Pequannock softball team relied on the bats of Nicole Hernandez (two hits) and Kellyann McClain (double, two RBIs).
Christina Brizek struck out five, walked one and surrendered only two hits.
Nicole Hernandez had two hits and Kellyann McClain had a double and two RBIs for the Golden Panthers (10-3).
Morris Knolls 3, Mendham 1
Gina Nappi rapped out two hits and had an RBI and Chelsea Fischer delivered a two-run single to power the second-seeded Golden Eagles in a MCT first-round game on Tuesday, April 23.
Morris Knolls pitcher Ashley Lesch yielded four hits, fanned eight and issued three walks. Morris Knolls improved its record to 13-2.
Courtney Gionco fueled the Minutemen's attack, slugging two doubles. Mendham dropped to 4-6.
Montville 7, Hanover Park 0
Megan Patierno and Jade Tungul homered for the Mustangs when they jarred seventh-seeded Hanover Park in MCT first-round play on Tuesday, April 23.
Patierno had three RBIs for 10th-seeded Montville (7-4). Cayleigh Aslanian doubled and had two other hits.
Jess Shalongo held the Mustangs to four hits. She struck out seven.
Boonton 11, Morris Hills 0
The sight of Anna Lee Smith on crutches a half hour before Boonton's bus departed for a Morris County Tournament preliminary-round game against Morris Hills made Jim Drury's heart sink and his jaw drop.
Drury had heard Smith, the Bombers' left fielder and leadoff hitter, wanted to talk to him but never imagined it was about an injury.
It didn't take long for Smith and her Boonton teammates to reveal to the stunned Drury that her ankle was fine and that he was the victim of a practical joke.
The Bombers went from laughter to serious and determined mode soon after, shutting out 16th-seeded Morris Hills on Monday, April 22.
"When Anna came around the corner on crutches, I said 'I can't believe this after all we did to get back to .500,'" Drury said. "It was a good joke. The game was a continuation of their mood. They were loose and ready to play."
Junior center fielder Kim Cacciabeve had a big game, rapping out three hits, including a double and a triple, and knocking in three runs for No. 17 Boonton (7-6). Kelly Whritenour (3 for 4, two RBIs) and winning pitcher Kylie Morgan (2 for 4, home run, three RBIs) also turned in exceptional showings at the plate.
Morgan, a senior right-hander, pitched a two-hitter, striking out five and walking four.
"The girls played very, very well," Drury said. "We've had no luck whatsoever at Morris Hills. Today was much better."
Twice, Boonton lost to Morris Hills, once in the consolation of the Scarlet Knights' tournament, on seventh-inning home runs. This time, the Bombers, who will meet Jefferson in a MCT quarterfinal on Tuesday, April 23 at 4 p.m., battled with their bats and received a fine performance from Morgan.
Boonton scored twice in its first at-bat. Smith walked, stole second and scored on Cacciabeve's bunt single down the third base line. Cacciabeve, who has 10 hits in her last 12 at-bats, scored on an errant throw.
Cacciabeve and Whritenour had RBI doubles in the third inning. Morgan belted a two-run homer to right-center field in the fifth inning for 6-0. The five-run sixth inning was highlighted by Carly McDaniel's RBI double and Cacciabeve's two-run triple.
Chatham 11, Parsippany Hills 2
McCall Moore had three hits, including a pair of solo home runs, and scored three times to propel the Cougars on Monday, April 22.
Charlotte Zukauckas contributed two hits, one of them a grand slam, for Chatham. Candace DeVito knocked in two runs with a home run.
Kristyna Lynch had two hits and an RBI for the Vikings.
Pequannock 10, Kinnelon 0
The Golden Panthers had seven hits, two by Melissa Tahan, and shut out the Colts on Monday, April 22.
Tahan, Eleni Lutas and Jen Daniels each scored two runs for Pequannock. Tahan had two RBIs.
Bridget Carr yielded two hits - to Brittany Coppola and Jennifer Ditzig. Carr struck out 11 and walked one.
Morris Tech 11, Warren Tech 1
Rebecca Jansen had a memorable day at the plate, rapping out three hits and driving in three runs for the Devils on Monday, April 22.
Jansen, a freshman, also scored three runs. Katie Tallman contributed two hits and had an RBI for Morris Tech.
Sam Schmidt had a double and two RBIs for the Devils (4-6).
Hanover Park 4, Whippany Park 0
Danielle Politi, Nicole Fernicola, Nicole Petrovich and Alex Cosenzo had an RBI apiece when the Hornets shut out sister school Hanover Park on Monday, April 22.
Sam Snyder, the winning pitcher, had a four-hitter with seven strikeouts.
Hanover Park took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and closed out its scoring with three runs in the fifth inning.
Morris Knolls 10, Vernon 3
Gionna Florey, Maggie Shaw and Kelsey Hanson had two hits apiece to pace the Golden Eagles' 13-hit attack on Monday, April 22.
Kim Felix went the distance to gain the pitching victory. Felix struck out eight, walked two and was nicked for only two hits.
Vernon led 3-1 after three innings but Morris Knolls put across four runs in the lower half of the fourth to go ahead to stay.
West Morris 6, Randolph 2
Becca Raymond, a senior shortstop, had two hits, including a double, and knocked in two runs to spark the Wolfpack on Monday, April 22.
Kelsey Brown and Allie McCourt also had RBIs for West Morris (7-3).
Randolph's Amanda Magadan, a four-year starter, got her 100th career hit by singling in the fifth inning. The Rams are 8-4.
Roxbury 9, Morristown 8
Kate Cullen continued her hot hitting, going 3 for 5 with an RBI to help Roxbury to a win over the Colonials on Monday, April 22.
Ashley Campbell and Taylor Dash had two hits for the Gaels. Dash knocked in two runs.
Alex Gleason went 3 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs for Morristown. Victoria Kapp and Nicole Rhoades added two hits each and Joanna Lee had two RBIs.
Sparta 7, Mount Olive 1
The Spartans had a five-run fourth inning to take a 7-0 lead against Mount Olive on Monday, April 22.
Gretchen Bowie tripled in three runs in the fourth inning for Sparta (8-3).
Kim Puccio notched the pitching win, striking out 10 walking two and giving up four hits.
Parsippany 5, Morristown-Beard 4
Caitlyn Capurso's inside-the-park home run with two outs in the top of the seventh inning enabled the Red Hawks to gain a come-from-behind victory over the Crimson on Monday, April 22.
Capurso, a junior, also singled and had three RBIs. Veronica Shaw slugged two triples and knocked in a run for the winners.
Winning pitcher Victoria Rossi went the distance, scattering six hits, striking out four and walking two.
Jefferson 11, North Warren 3
The Falcons, powered by Claudia Tietz, who had three hits and four RBIs, defeated North Warren on Monday, April 22.
Tietz doubled, tripled and homered for Jefferson, which improved to 10-2. Anna Carlson also had a homer and two other hits for the Falcons. Carlson finished with three RBIs.
Jefferson's junior ace, Melissa Jurkiewicz, gave up five hits, struck out 10 and walked one.
High Point 3, Pope John 1
Junior righty Ally Frei had a 13-strikeout effort to buoy the Wildcats on Monday, April 22.
Frei gave up two hits and walked three. She helped her own cause with two hits and an RBI.
Cassie and Michaela had an RBI apiece for High Point (9-2).